I do just what Mike Hawker does and it works the nuts. A simple switch on the outside and its on to start and fly and off when you land. Often I put the switch next to the switch for the receiver power pack and set it up so both switches move in the same direction to fly and for after landing. Radio Shack sells battery holders for either C cell or AA. Just make sure the batteries you use are 1.2 volt and not 1.5 volt. The latter can cause early demise of plugs. From the simple system you can gusy it up with a remote glo starter attachment, good for determining your aux. battery inside died, or a micro switch such as rwh mentions to turn the deal on at low throttle only. The fancy pc board devices selling for 39.95 are ok but like you said you wanted to hear the "been there done that" routines and I've given you mine. I have been there and done that and an old principle comes to mind K.I.S.S. - - - Keei it simple stupid : - )